WHENEVER the faithful hear the verses of this Book being recited, their eyes will overflow with tears and their hearts will be deeply touched by Him Who is the Most Great Remembrance for the love they cherish for God, the…
I have some friends who are really talented. And they made this great short film called Revival that I think that you should see. So many of my friends are in this little movie! I’ve embedded both parts here. Tell…
It would be impossible at this stage to ignore the indispensability or to overestimate the unique significance of the institution of the National Spiritual Assembly – the pivot round which revolve the activities of the believers throughout the American continent….
In looking for quotations about National Convention, I found this touching story.  I remember that a silk carpet was displayed in Foundation Hall when I was a child, but it is no longer hanging on the wall. I love this…
“The winds of the true springtide are passing over you; adorn yourselves with blossoms like trees in the scented garden. Spring clouds are streaming; then turn you fresh and verdant like the sweet eternal fields. The dawn star is shining,…
Arise, and proclaim unto the entire creation the tidings that He Who is the All-Merciful hath directed His steps towards the Ridvan and entered it. Guide, then, the people unto the garden of delight which God hath made the Throne…
The other day I was searching for something random in the Baha’i Writings, and came across this passage from Baha’u’llah. It is just fascinating to me, and I thought I might share it with you. Baha’u’llah explains how language has…
For the Chicago Naw-Ruz celebration I made Persian dolmeh. I had lent my favorite cookbook to a coworker, and realized that I needed to take another look at the recipe. A quick Google search confirmed my fear: there were no…
Last night I went to the Delorean & Miike Snow show at the Metro. It was fantastic. I enjoyed myself immensely. It was pouring rain when we parked and went in, my feet were aching at the end of the…
This morning was a Haifa morning. I stepped outside and the air smelled like (home), like stone paths, the bay, flowers, and a breeze off the mountains and desert that lifts you up… Warm and cool, the kind of cool…
Some of you may remember a little photoblog project I was a part of called “Nylon Parla“. Well, things have evolved a bit. Introducing: Nineteen Months. We are a group of photographers from all over the world who are members…
This is the Baha’i new year (167 B.E.). I am feeling…settled, at peace. I seek out peaceful things, spaces, and sometimes people these days. Other times, I want to be surrounded by crowds. The Naw-Ruz post for nineteen days is…
It is funny what you discover when you start doing work on a home. It starts with paint, then with the floors being replaced, then the closet doors (I have 6 closets!). As we painted, we discovered that who ever…
My photos are up over at nineteen days, the photoblog about the Baha’i Fast. Check it out, leave a comment (here or there), and definitely check out the photos from the 6 days of the Fast so far. I’m stunned…
I was talking to my hilarious, beautiful cousin Sahar J on the phone a few nights ago (she lives in New York City), and as we talked about how we celebrated Ayyam-i-Ha this year and how the fast is going…
As I was reflecting on the Baha’i Fast, I remembered my time in Haifa, Israel. I was lucky enough to participate in two years of the fast while serving there. The photo below was taken from my flat one early…
Are you doing anything special this year to celebrate Ayyam-i-Ha? What things did you do as a kid, if you grew up as a Baha’i? If you don’t know about this time of charity, gift-giving, and celebration, what would you…
I have really bad luck when it comes to weather and moving. In the last 8 months I’ve moved 4 times, and each time there has been some sort of precipitation. Every. single. time. I went back to check the…
finding lost childhood toys fancy hats visitors homemade pizza the way the morning sunlight looks on the Baha’i House of Worship the look of glee when you play a prank on me brunch on a Saturday morning with nothing else…
What?! Yeah, well, I’m nearly as surprised as everyone else, trust me. 6 months ago I was all about leaving Chicago. Then, as time went on, I realized that I love Chicago, my job is amazing (almost as much fun…
I wrote part of this about a year ago when I was still living at home. She read the story of two broken hearts , pausing every few minutes to sip her cup of hot milk (now a nightly routine). …
in knots the strings are slipping round we passed by the dreaming trees and the childhood things. stepping down from palaces in daylight the world is harsher the words we say are the way it is we’re in denial without…
It seems like I spend a lot of time snapping photos, editing, and posting. I try to post photos within a week of taking them, mostly because I feel like it is a waste to just keep them on my…
I looked at the ingredients in my kitchen last week and realized I had the ingredients for a full meal (shocking, these days, since I’m rarely home!). So why not? Ingredients 1 lb chicken breast, diced into cubes 1 package…
Here is an update about the first day of the trial of the Baha’is in Iran. International pressure is increasing, but things are still very perilous for the believers there. In light of the situation in Iran and last night’s…
What if all you wanted to do was improve the lives of the people around you, assist with education of all people and obtain an education, and be able to worship without fear of persecution? We know these things to…
This Gregorian year was full of changes, travel, friends, family, and many good things. I’ve been avoiding most of the “end of the year” lists that take over our media at this time of the year, but of course I…
Nylon Parla is back, folks! That’s right. We have a new crew, new photos, a new mission, and we post every 19 days (which is how long a Baha’i month is). We take a photo on a particular subject (this…
I love the idea that our dreams can transcend space and time. Baha’u’llah discusses this theme in a fascinating passage from Gleanings: “As to thy question concerning the worlds of God. Know thou of a truth that the worlds of…
I think I ate too much. But all in all, it was very successful. A nice balance of family, friends, every meal imaginable, parties, & even some dancing! “SAY, by reason of your remembering Him Whom God shall make manifest…